Disable Automatic Updates

Windows 8 and 8.1

If you want to turn off the automatic updates in Windows 8 and 8.1, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then press Enter.

2. Click the Automatic Updates tab, and then click to select Turn off Automatic Updates.

3. Click OK.

Windows 10

Windows 10 doesn’t allow the user to disable automatic updates. However there is a workaround to remedy this situation.

Home Edition: You can stop automatic updates by enabling the Metered connection option. This option only works on previously associated Wi-Fi networks. When you set a connection as “metered,” Windows 10 won’t automatically download updates on it. Windows 10 will automatically download updates when you connect your device to an unmetered network, or when you set the network it’s connected to as unmetered again. However, this only works with a Wi-Fi interface. Unfortunately, there is no way to disable automatic updates on an Ethernet interface in Windows 10 Home.

1. Open the Windows Wi-Fi Settings app by selecting Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi. Click on “Manage known networks.”

Windows 10 Wi-Fi settings

2. Choose your Wi-Fi network and click “Properties.”

Windows 10 Manage known Wi-Fi networks settings

3. Enable the “Set as metered connection” option. This option only affects the Wi-Fi network you’re currently editing, but Windows will remember this setting for each individual Wi-Fi network on which you change it.

Set Wi-Fi connection as metered connection